Case and inner attached tray



May 8, 1951 P. GUSMORINO 2,552,170

CASE AND INNER ATTACHED TRAY Filed June 15, 1948 IN V EN TOR. PA UL GUSMOR/NO Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES FTET QEFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a combination case and inner tray, more particularly to a device of the said category wherein the tray is hingedly supported by the case and its closure member, as in jewelry boxes, overnight bags, salesmens display cases, etc.

It is within the contemplation of my invention to provide a device in the above mentioned class that is simple in construction and relatively easy to fabricate, and having the functional and aesthetic advantages of more expensive conventional devices. And in this aspect of my invention it is an important object to employ no more than a single, or a single set, of rigid link members, in contradistinction to conventional structures requiring at least two and frequently three sets of such rigid links to permit the proper pivotal movement of the tray and the proper support therefor in both the open and closed condition of the case.

It is a further object of this invention to employ a pliable material as the rear hinge member of the tray, said material also serving as a portion of the ornamental lining of the tray.

And in accordance with this aspect of my invention, it is an object to save both material and operational steps in the fabrication of devices of said category.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure whereby said pliable hinge member additionally serves as a stop to limit the rearward opening movement of the lid of the case, and to cooperate with a forwardly disposed rigid link in supporting the tray in all of its operative positions.

It is also an object of this invention to enable the aforesaid pliable hinge member to be cooperatively used with a mirror on the lid of the case, whereby the mirror both conceals and aids in supporting a portion of said pliable member, and permits the latters functioning in all operative positions of the lid and tray.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the preferred form of my invention in its open position, a part of the mirror being broken away for clarity.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 1

taken substantially along line 2--2, a portion being magnified for clarity.

Figure 3 is a view like Fig. 2, showing the lid in a position intermediate its open, and closed positions, and

Figure 4 is a view like Fig. 2, showing the lid in its closed position.

In the preferred form of my invention illustrated in the drawings, a caselil consists of a container portion ll upon which a closure lid I2 is supported by a, hinge l3. Pivotally attached to lateral sides is and 15 of the case are two rigid links it and ii, upper terminals of said links being pivotally attached to side walls l8 and as, respectively, of a tray 20.

The lid 82 contains, against a roof 2! thereof, a mirror 22, it being preferred that said mirror extend to lateral sides 23 and 24 of said lid l2. A bottom edge 25 of the mirror-the edge adjacent the tray 29--is spaced forwardly (upwardly in Fig. 1) a short distance therefrom, to facilitate the functioning of pliable sheet 26, in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

The pliable sheet 25 is, in the preferred form of my invention, properly surfaced and finished so that it may serve as a suitable lining for the tray 20, and it may be made of leather, fabric or any other pliable and otherwise suitable material. An upper portion 2? of said sheet is adhesively or otherwise attached to the wall 2! of lid l2, behind mirror 22. An intermediate hinge portion 28 of the sheet extends between the edge 25 of the mirror and the upper portion of the tray 28, a lower portion 29 of the sheet 25 being adhesively or otherwise attached to a, front surface of a rear wall 3! of the tray. It is preferred that said sheet 25 extend completely across the tray 2% between lateral walls l8 and I9 thereof.

It is thus apparent that said pliable sheet 26 consists of three sections, upper section 21 which is concealed from view by the mirror 22, the mirror aiding in holding said section against wall 2! of the lid, lower section 29 which is exposed to view and actually serves as a lining on the rear wall 3% of the tray, and the intermediate hinge portion 25 which serves as a hinge member, in the manner to be now set forth.

When the lid i2 is in its open limiting position as shown in Fig. 2, said intermediate hinge portion 28 is in taut condition and disposed pliable sheet 26.

obliquely with respect to the plane of mirror 22. In this position, the rear wall 30 of the tray is, in the embodiment illustrated, in abutment with the wall 2| of the lid l2. The arrangement is hence such that the lid i2 is maintained in its said open position, and prevented from moving therebeyond. Since, in the open position illustrated, the lid I2 is inclined rearwardly with respect to a rear wall 3| of the case i0, any tendency of the lid to drop downwardly will be resisted by the sheet 26, in cooperation with links l6 and I1, particularly since in the open position illustrated the intermediate hinge portion 28 of the sheet is in taut condition. It will also be observed that the tray 29 is inclined rearwardly and downwardly when the device is in its open condition, so that the rear wall 30 of the tray is in flush engagement with the wall 2| of the lid l2.

As the lid i2 is moved downwardly towards its closed position, said intermediate hinge portion 28 is released from its taut extended condition, and is bent substantially U-shaped; as shown in Fig. 3. When the lid i2 is brought into its fully closed position, as illustrated in Bilge, the tray is operatively, supported in its lowermost position bythe combined supporting action of links id and. i7, and said intermediate hinge portion 28 of the pliable sheet 26.

The construction is hence such as to permit an operative opening and, closing movement of the lid I 2 by the use of one set of links it, i'i, andv the relatively inexpensive, easily attached, Said sheet 25 serves not only the functions of permitting a pivotal movement ofthe 1id I2, of. restraining the lid l2 from further rearward movement, and of helping to support the tray 29 in its various operative positions,,but alsoof forming a constituent part of the decorative lining of the tray.

Inthe abovedescription, the invention has been disclosed merely byway of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is tov be understood, therefore, that the invention is. not limited to, any specific, form or manner of, practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1- Ina combinationcase and tray of the class described, a container portion, a lid hingedly attached thereto, and a tray proportioned to be accommodated within the container portion, the

tray having, a rear wall disposed at the rear of condition when the lid is in its. limiting open position, the plane of said hinge section when in. its said taut condition being inclined rearwardly from the plane of said rear wall, a mirror-secured to the inner portionof the lid, said mirror, substantially covering said upper section of the sheet, said intermediate, portion of' the sheet being free of the mirror and extending forwardly past the lower edge thereof.

2. In a combination case and tray of the class said upper and lower sections, said hinge section being in unsupported taut and extended condition when the lid is in its limiting open position, the plane of said hinge section when in its said taut condition being inclined rearwardly from the plane of said rear wall, a mirror secured to the inner portion of the lid, said mirror substantially covering said upper section of the sheet, said intermediate portion of the sheet being free of the mirror and extending forwardly past the lower edge thereof, said lower section of the sheet being attached to and substantially covering the front surface of the rear wall of the tray.

3. A combination case and tray of the class described comprising a container portion, a lid having a roof and lateral sides and being pivotally attached to the container portion, the lid being operatively movable between a closed position anda limiting open position, and a tray proportioned to be accommodated within the container portion, the tray having a rear wall disposed at the rear of the container portion, the forward portion of saidv tray being pivotally connected to and supported by said container portion, the rear portion of the tray being hingedly connected'to the lid, the last-mentioned hinged connection comprising a sheet of pliable materialcomprising three sections, an upper section secured to the lid, a lower section secured to the tray, andan unsecured intermediate hinge section between said upper and lower sections, said intermediate hinge section being in unsupported taut and extended condition when the lid isin. said limiting open position, a mirror secured tov the inner surface of the roof of the lid, said upper section of the sheet being disposed behind the mirror, the lower edge of the mirror being spaced above the tray when the lid is in said open position.

4, A combination case and, tray according to claim 3, said intermediate section of the sheet extending. forwardly. and downwardly beyond said lower edge of the mirror, the lower section of the. sheet extendingv over and being attached to the front surface of the rear wall of the tray.

5. A combination case and tray of the class described comprising a container portion, a lid having a roof and lateral sides and being pivotally attached to the container portion, the lid being operatively movable between a closed position and limiting open position, and a tray proportioned to be accommodated within the container portion, the tray having a rear wall disposed at the rear of the container portion, 'the forward portion of said tray being pivotally connected to and supported by said container portion, the rear portion of, the tray being hingedly connectedto the lid, the last-mentioned hinged connection comprising a sheet of pliable material comprising three sections, an upper section secured; to the lid, a lower section secured to the 2,552,170 5 6 tray, and an unsecured intermediate hinge sec- REFERENCES CITED tion between said upper and lower sections, said The following references are of record in the intermediate hinge section being in taut and file of this patent: extended condition when the lid is in said limiting open position, the lid, when in its said 1imit- 3 UNITED STATES PATENTS ing open position, being inclined rearwardly Number Name Date beyond the back of the container portion, the 1,652,984 Hixson Dec. 13, 1927 rear wall of the tray being in abutment with 2,119,313 Burdge May 31, 1938 the roof of the lid when it is in such open posi- 2,355,332 Roos et a1 Aug. 8, 1944 tion, whereby the tray is disposed rearwardiy 39 2,409,926 Bloom Oct. 22, 1946 and downwardly when the lid is in its said iimit- FOREIGN PATENTS mg open position.

PAUL GUSMORINO. Number Country Date 349,970 Great Britain June 5, 1931 

